UNKNOWN TO ME, AT SOME POINT I BEGAN LEANING FORWARD TO STARE AT THE GORGEOUS PALACE THAT CAME INTO SIGHT. "Wow..." The word escapes my lips before I can catch myself and my face burns hot from embarrassment as I hear Finnian chuckle.
"It is quite alright for you to be astonished, Lady Lanesworth," he follows considerately as I settle back into my seat. "The Chandani Palace is praised as the most elegant and esteemed of all of the empires within the continent of Grah."
I marvel at his words for a second before something is dug out of Ruto's memories. Something...ominous.
The Chandani Emperor is a ruthless man...and terrifying in his rule.
My lips quiver at the thought and I eye Finnian with a nervous smile. "May I ask what I am paying a visit to the Emperor for?" I brush back my hair with my fingers shaking. "I am but a fallen member of the nobility--"
Finnian smiles with his gaze gentle. "His Majesty is a respectable man who has lived for many years," he began, placing his hand over his heart. "The Emperor is destined to encounter a maiden bearing silver hair and violet eyes every century. This audience is merely the proper procedures that must be made."
My eyes go wide. "The Emperor has lived for how many years?!" I exclaim in a sudden outburst. Slapping my hands over my mouth with the realization I shrink. "I- My apologies," I whisper while dropping my head.
"There is no need for apologies, Lady Lanesworth," Finnian reassures. "His Majesty...has most certainly lived quite some time. But this is a tale for you to uncover with your audience with His Majesty."
Before I could ask more, the carriage stops with the whinny of the horses and Finnian steps out. "Do step with care," he says gently and takes my hand as I step out of the carriage.
The palace is much more extravagant up close and I couldn't help but awe at the sight of it again. "Wonder of places in Europe were like this..."
"Europe?"
"Ah!" I blink in realization to my mutter and find Finnian staring at me curiously. Laughing nervously, I smile. "Seems as though I tend to murmur the strangest things!" I tell him frantically.
Finnian's confusion disappears as he offers me the crook of his arm again. "We mustn't keep His Majesty waiting," he tells me as I take his arm and he leads me into the palace walls. "Afterwards, we shall see to your health."
I thank him but sigh inwardly. Of all the people I took the body of, it just had to be the one carrying medical conditions. But I still look at it as a fighting chance.
'A living body is a living body!'
"Open the doors," Finnian instructs the guards stationed in front of a huge set of doors. I'm already out of breath by the time we had reached wherever we were. "Please bear with it a little more, Lady Lanesworth."
'God, I need a workout.'
I smile, breathless while wiping away the sweat on my forehead. "I am alright, Sir Finnian! Although I may not seem as such, I am quite tough!"
He chuckles before turning his attention back to the doors as the guards open it up.
"Your Majesty, Sir Kingsley has returned!" one of the guards announces as Finnian leads me inside the place I recognize as a throne room.
Finnian motions for the release of his arm and I do what he tells me. He kneels before the throne that has a curtain draped around it.
It was thin like a veil but I could see a figure sitting on the throne on the other side. Feeling intimidated, I hurry to curtsy-- something that I'm so glad that Ruto knows.
"Another woman," a deep voice speaks from the other side of the curtain. I could hear hate in the Emperor's tone. "Three thousand years and neither your bloodline nor those simpleton birds give in to the passing time."
'Three thousand years? Birds?'
Finnian continues to keep his gaze on the rich carpet beneath him, a smile on his features. "Your Majesty. I have brought before you Lady Ruto Elisheba Lanesworth. She comes from the house of Harwood."
I lower my head frantically, curtsying again. "G-greetings, Your Majesty." I curse myself for stumbling over my words and bit into my lower lip. My legs are shaking as I stand. "I am Ruto."
The curtains shift and something is digging into me as I hear footsteps. I couldn't see him but I knew that the Emperor was staring down at me. "Ah yes, the slave."
'Rude!'
My lips quiver, desperate to shout back at him that Ruto had lost her status due to injustice. But now wasn't the time, I feel as if I'm going to fall over under his gaze.
"Every century, the same old." The Emperor's voice is deep and honestly, it sounded pretty hot. "Do the noblemen of this empire believe that one of their silver-haired daughters will magically be the one?"
It's difficult to not look up and see what he looks like. With that pit tearing away in my stomach, I knew offending this great Emperor would be a bad idea.
The doors slam open and I jump at the bang and an array of feathers fall around me as large forms shoot past. "Azzy! We found her!" My eyes widen at the sight of the hybrid bird humans settling next to the Emperor.
Whom I looked in the eye for the first time.
He wore a dark formal uniform with golden designs, holding raven hair and blue and red eyes. If his gaze explained anything, he did not appreciate this situation.
"Goran. Goro."
"Hm?" The hybrid birdman smiles brightly with his golden hair shining. But then his eyes fall on me, slowly covering his mouth that dropped open with his wing. "Oh heck..."
The other sighs, they have bright blue hair. "I knew this was a bad idea..." he laments softly and pulls a troubled face. "We brought another one, Azrael."
Finnian raises himself to his feet, taking hold of my arm as I begin to stumble. "My apologies, Lady Lanesworth," he whispers to me and keeps his gaze steady on the Emperor. "But I am afraid you will undergo an unpleasant time during this audience."
I turn towards the doors and my eyes grow wide. A woman carrying herself elegantly is striding down the scarlet carpet.
"She looks...!"
Her silver hair is held up by a bright red ribbon, the same ivy-like pattern winding down her face in the same spot as mine. Eyes violet and shining as a gentle smile was carried in her features. This woman was stunning...but also screamed danger.
The blue-haired birdman shifts into a fully human form and drops down in front of the woman with his hand held out towards her. "This is Lady Clarity Elisheba, the daughter of the Marquess of Shacklebolt."
She gives an elegant curtsy, her smile still the same. "Greetings, Your Majesty. May the blessings of the moon be upon you," she says with a strong voice and a powerful gaze.
I turn away from her, cowering under the Emperor's gaze as anyone should when a man is emitting a murderous air.
"Same old... every century." He clicks his tongue in disapproval with his brows furrowing. The curtains are pulled back from his throne and the Emperor turns to seat himself again.
My legs are shaking and I'm getting exhausted, but I keep holding my breath before the Emperor. Finnian eyes me with concern and I try my best to reassure him with a smile.
If I'm going to be put through whatever situation this is, with all of these bird people and weird things...then I needed to make a good first impression.
"Lady Shacklebolt and Lady Lanesworth." I blink, eyes wide as the Emperor's voice echoes throughout the room, and look up at him. He has his finger pointing towards us with a bright light forming at the end of it dangerously. "I shall give both of you a test."
Both Clarity and I eye the Emperor and he smirks darkly.
"I have gone through far too many years of this ridiculous act to bear another," he says, shooting out the light at the end of his finger. It pierces through the carpet at our feet like a bullet. "If either of you can curry my favor and me over within the next year, then one of you shall become my empress while the other returns to their daily life."
Clarity's smile falters at his words and I grow nervous as well. I was still so confused about what was happening, but I blink and suddenly remember a clue. It was something a long time back into Ruto's past.
"Elisheba. You carry the name of Elisheba, my dear." The memories of Ruto's dad comes into my mind with his smile as clear as day. "A legend passed down from generations of fair maiden bearing silver hair and violet eyes. You may be the one His Majesty seeks," he said to me.
I shiver at the memory, my expression going dark.
"If both of you fail..." the Emperor continues and I snap my gaze towards him fearfully. He smiles with blue electricity zapping around his hand. "Then I shall execute you both publically for deceiving the Emperor."
My jaw drops and I'm filled with horror.
'What the hell?!'
"Best of luck," he finishes with a tone full of mockery and waves us away. "See to it that they receive rooms within the Lobelia Palace and send a physician to Lady Lanesworth's chambers."
I'm filling up with confusion as I mindlessly listen to Finnian ask if I'm ok and the Emperor strides past, leaving a lingering dark gaze behind him.
The bird people lead out Clarity, and I'm left to crumble to my knees with an exhausted sigh. My head spinning from what just happened.
"Sir Finnian..." I whisper as he sweeps me off my feet and sudden tiredness overcomes me. "What...what is going on?"
He looks down at me worriedly and gives his gentle smile despite the look in his eyes. "I shall explain in due time, Lady Lanesworth. Our priority at the moment is to seek out care for you."
I close my eyes, still afraid, still shaking, still me.
Would I really be able to prove myself different here?
---------------------------------------------------
I'M RACING THROUGH THE FOYER AND INTO THE KITCHEN AS SOON AS I GET HOME FROM SCHOOL. Winter break had finally kicked off and I was more than excited to help grandma decorate for the holidays.
"Grandma!"
She turned from the pot that simmered with a delicious smell and a warm smile grew on her wrinkled features. "My little leopard. Racing home as always, I see," she said with a laugh before she turned back to her cooking. "You'll fall if you keep running around like that when it's snowing."
I laughed as I turned on the sink to run my hands through the warm water. "You know I'm careful!" I told her and hummed as I washed my hands.
A period of silence passed by before grandma placed the ladle down with a clatter and turned to face me with a firm gaze. "The ones who say that are the ones who end up losing their lives!" she exclaimed fearfully.
"G-grandma?" I drew away after I turned off the sink. "What's wrong--" But then my words were cut off as grandma took me into her arms, my hands still wet from washing my hands.
"Please, my little leopard. No matter what you do, be careful. Always think about being careful the moment a situation gets dangerous!"
I didn't understand grandma's words right then and there, and honestly, I think I ran to my room crying because she yelled at me like that. But now I think I do understand after the dots were connected with things she had said before.
"The bloodline of your great-grandpa, grandpa, and dad was cursed. Now that curse has passed onto you."
It was the curse of early death and I think it's come to haunt me now.
I JOLT AWAKE, SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY AS OF LATE AND MY EYES CLEAR TO THE SIGHT OF AN EXTRAVAGANT ROOM. "Oh wow..." I push away the covers and situ up, looking around the place and then I gasp. "Finally, some peace!"
But as soon as I flop back down onto the plush bed, there is a knock on the door. "Lady Lanesworth? Have you awoken?" an unfamiliar voice calls for me.
"Ah, yes!" I reply while sitting up again with an internal grumble. The door opens and I watch carefully as a woman steps into my line of sight from the bed.
She curtsies carefully and smiles, freckles doting over her nose with her blonde hair held up carefully in a tight bun. "A pleasure to meet you, my lady," she greets with a warm voice. "I am Viscountess Dorothea Eir Hringhorni, but do call me Dorothy."
I awe at her elegance, m eyes lighting up. She was shining with beauty! "The pleasure is all mine, Viscountess. And please, call me Ruto," I greet her with a beaming expression. "I'm sorry I'm greeting you like this..."
"Ah, please! I am merely here to serve as your lady-in-waiting!" She stops me as I try to get out of bed, her gaze full of worry while coming closer. "Please, Lady Ruto. You must be nursed back to health before anything else." Dorothy says with a wry smile and places me back under the covers.
A sudden worry overcomes me as Dorothy pats my lap. "But do I not-- His Majesty said--" I'm afraid my limited time to keep my life intact was going to run out.
If the other woman...Lady Shacklebolt wins the Emperor's heart then I'm probably going to be forced back to my master's place. But then I have to wonder...why was this happening?
"Um... Viscountess Dorothy..." I call out to her as she tidies up around me. "May I ask the reason why I am being put through this? I don't quite recall..." Ruto's memories were a bit fogged up, possibly from the years of trauma.
Dorothy smooths out her dress, smiling gently. "I have heard the ordeals you have been put through, Lady Ruto. It is quite alright if you do not recall the matters with His Majesty," she says. "But if you wish for an explanation, then I shall be happy to oblige."
I nod vigorously. "If you will!"
She clears her throat. "It is a matter that is well known within the Chandani Empire. His Majesty was rumored to have been cursed by Lord Vishva-- the Lord of the Universe-- three thousand years ago...for a reason unknown to us." Dorothy lowers her gaze. "He lives on as a man unable to pass on to the next life...and the only way for him to do so...is to get back the love that he lost years ago."
"Love?" I repeat, still a bit confused.
Dorothy smiles fondly. "The maiden bearing silver hair and violet eyes, Lady Elisheba," she says and my eyes grow wide. "Three thousand years ago, that was the woman the Emperor devoted himself to. There are very few maidens born with the exact appearance of Lady Elisheba but many are led to believe that if His Majesty finds Lady Elisheba's reincarnation...then he shall find peace as a proper mortal and grant a reward upon the family this new maiden comes from."
My hands curl into fists as I remember the greedy eyes of my master. "So that' why..." I murmur with my lips pursing. "Then I must leave this room sooner, Viscountess! I do not wish to return to my life under that man!" I exclaim frantically.
But Dorothy places her hand on my shoulder, her gaze calm. "You must understand something, my lady."
"Understand...?"
"It is His Majesty that ordered you rest until you are fully recovered."
I freeze.
'WHAT?!'